POLITICS

The United States will not accept the results of the “elections” in Nagorno Karabakh

As reported earlier, on May 3, the puppet regime installed on occupied territories of Azerbaijan, will hold “parliamentary elections.” During the press briefing at the U.S. State Department on May 1, special correspondent of AZERTAC in the United States Yusif Babanli stated that the regime in military control of Azerbaijan’s occupied Nagorno Karabakh region will hold “parliamentary elections” on May 3 despite the calls and warnings from the international community that this step may harm peace efforts and ongoing negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the conflict. Highlighting the fact that no country or international organization recognizes the regime, and stressing that several countries and international bodies, including European Union, Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the OSCE Minsk Group, of which the United States is a co-chair, have already expressed disapproval of the “elections,” he asked the spokesperson to clarify the position of the administration on these “elections”.

In response to the question, the State Department spokesperson Jeff Rathke said: “the United States does not recognize Nagorno Karabakh as independent and sovereign state. And accordingly, we will not accept the results of the elections held on May 3, as affecting legal status of Nagorno Karabakh.” He also stated that “in the context of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict, US recognizes that the people of Nagorno Karabakh will play a role in deciding their future” and stressed that these elections “in no way prejudge the final status of Nagorno Karabakh with the outcome of the negotiations to bring lasting peaceful settlement to the conflict.”

As a result of Armenian aggression, 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories, including Nagorno Karabakh region were occupied by Armenian armed forces in 1992-1994. During the war, Armenia installed a puppet regime on these internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan Republic. Negotiations on peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict continue under the auspices of OSCE Minsk Group.

AZERTAG.AZ :The United States will not accept the results of the “elections” in Nagorno Karabakh